Clamp stick



'Nov. 10. 1953 Filed Dec. 5, 1949 K. R. RUNDE CLAMP STICK 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR KENNETH R. Ruuo s ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1953 Filed Dec. 5, 1949 K. R RUNDE CLAMP STICK- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 '1. iii A I INVENTOR KENNETH R. RUNDE ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1953 CLAMP STICK Kenneth R. Runde, Lemay, Mo., assignor to James R. Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application. December 5, 1949, Serial No. 131,089

10 Claims.

This invention relates generally to clamp sticks and more specifically to clamp sticks of the type employed for applying electrical clamps to and removing electrical clamps from overhead electrical conductors, the predominant object of the invention being to provide a clamp stick of the type referred to which is simple in construction and operation and is capable of performing its intended function in an improved and highly efiicient manner. i i

d 'Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevationalview of the improved clamp stick of this invention, a clamp, which is shown by dotted lines, being associated with the clamp stick.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the clamp stick shown in Fig. 1. i i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. d d

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section, on a slightly reduced scale, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary vertical section of the upper portion of the clamp stick, as illustrated in Fig. 6, but with certain parts thereof shown in changed positions.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary on line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary verticalsection similar to Fig. 8 but showing parts of the clamp stick in changed positions.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section of the clamp stick and showing the hook thereof in its lowered position. i

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the hook supporting member of the improved clamp stick.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the hooksupporting member of the improved clamp stick, but looking at said hook-supporting member from an angle diiferent from the angle from which said hook-supporting member is viewed in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevational View illustrating the means for retaining the outer tubular member of the clamp stick in place.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section taken on line l4-M of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 illustrates a modified form of the hooksupporting member of the clamp stick of this invention.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for purposes of illustration, merely, two embodiments of the invention, A designates the improved clamp stick vertical section taken generally. The clamp stick A includes an elongated ferrule] ;.which is secured by fastening means 2 at its lowerend to a. pole 3, an end portion of saidpolebeing extended into the lower portion of saidferrule whoseinside diameteris greater than the inside diameter of the upper portion of the ferrule so as to provide within the ferrule an annular shoulder 4 (Fig. 6). The portion of the ferrule located above the shoulder 4 has the cross-sectional shape illustrated to good advantage in Figs. 2, 3, and 4; that is to say, the bore 5 of the portion of the ferrule l located above the shoulder 4 is of substantially less diameter than is the bore of the portion of said ferrule that is located below said shoulder 4, and

the wall of said upper portion of the ferrule has formed therein a pair of diametrically opposed grooves S and a pair of diametrically opposed grooves I, said pairs of grooves 6 and I extending from the shoulder 4 to the topof the ferrule l. At its upper end the ferrule I is provided with diametrically opposed recesses 8 at which the grooves l terminate, and said ferrule has formed through the wall thereof a slot 9 which extends longitudinally of the ferrule.

Supported within the upper portion of the ferrule I, for longitudinal sliding movement therein, is a hook-supporting member Ill, said hooksupporting member having a substantially cylindrical body portion ll'from the upper end of which a pair of spaced ears 12 are extended upwardly, and the outer face of said bodyportion being in sliding contact with the face ofthe bore 5 of. the upper portion of the ferrule I. Supported for pivotal movement by the spaced ears I2 is a hook l3, 2. portion M of said hook being disposed between said ears and a pivot element 15 is extended through alined apertures formed through the ears and through the portion I4 of the hook l3. The hook [3 has associated therewith a coil spring [6, one end of which is anchored to said hook and the opposite end of which is anchored to the hook-supporting member I0, said coil spring tending to move the hook to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 7. In order to limit the movement of the hook lit in the opthe coil spring It, said hook is provided with an abutment I? that contacts with a pin l8 when the hook has reached the limit of its movement in the direction referred to, said pin being mounted on one of the ears [20f the hook-supporting member l0 and being extended inwardly therefrom, as is shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Associated with the hook-supporting member [0 is a coil spring IS, the upper end portionyof which is extended into the hollow interior of said hook-supportingmember l0 and saidupper end portion of said coil spring being connected to a pin 20 which extends transversely of the hollow interiorof said hook-supporting member. The opposite or lower end of the coil spring :9 is connected by a clip 2| to a disk 22 whose marginal portion contacts with the shoulder, ll of the ferrule I. The coil spring I9 is maintained supporting element F is 3 under tension between its opposed anchor points and thus tends to move the hook-supporting member I0 downwardly relative to the ferrule *I. Also, an apertured disk 23 is interposed between the lower face of the marginal portion of the T disk 22 and the top face of the pole 3 (Fig. 6").

Adjacent to its lower end the hook-supporting member ID is provided with an annular groove 24, and communicating with said annular groove at their lower ends is a pair of opposed grooves 25 which extend to and are open at the upper ends of the spac'etl .ears iliat-ftlie top of the hook-supporting member II]. g The grooves 25 are cut in the outer face of'the'body portion III of the hook-supporting member I0 and in the Iouter faceso'r thQGfiIS 1-2, and-said grooves are extended in straight lines longitudinally of the hook-supporting member. Also, formed in the .top 'wall ofthe annular groove 24 diametrically ia'njd'ther'eby adjustthe movable jaw of the clamp 4 ductor to which it is to be applied, the fixed .upper jaw of the clamp being passed over the conductor. Thejclamp stick is thenpull'ed downwardly slightly to free the 'lower portion of the clamp from the recesses 8 at the upper end of the ferrule I and the clamp stick is rotated axially so as to cause the screwthreaded jaw actuating element vof the clamp to be rotated into :clamping engagement with the overhead conductor. The clamp now having been applied th the overhead iconductor, the operator pulls .of the hook-supporting member I0 and ope'riing 'intoisaidannular groove is apair offdiametrically opposed, semicircular notches "26, each notch "26 being 's'pace'dfl9ll" "from the grooves located at opposite sides of said notch. The annular groove T254 receives the inner end portion of *a screw- {threaded element 21 which -is screwthreade'dly seated in a screwthreadedopenin'g fo'rmedJi'nthe fefri e I ,as is shown to good advantage in Fig.1-3, aria saif'd hook-Supporting member may be r'o- Ytatedwithresp'ecttothe ferrule -I soas to cause "the inner end .portion of said screwthread'ed ele- 'irlerit '2'] to .be seated in "one of E the notches zs, for "pass into "one 'of "the grooves =2 5, for purposes to baher'einafter explained.

In describing theuse for *the improved clamp stiekof this invention itwi ll b'e assumed that In is desired to apply to an overhead electrical conductor a clampg'of thetype having a screwthreaded jaw "actuating 'e'ler'nent Ca which is 7 provided 'with an eye Chat its lower end. When the f improved clamp stick is ready for such use, the hodk-sl ppojfting member "I 0 is in its dipper- 'mdstpdsiti'o'n within the "ferrule "where "-11; is

"held against the downward pull ofthe coil spring '21 -w-hich ds 1K9 byt he screwthre'aded element -sjeated'"-in one of the notches"-2 6. wh'en the nookits uppe'rmos't' posiftio'n, 'as "described, the eeirspr n -I 6 draw s the hook 1-3 to the position in "Which it is shown in Fig; 1. Tn'eheok 1-3 is now passed throug h ithe eye of th'e jaw actuating -elemen-t -of the clamp Garid the '=ho'ok"is rn'oved' to its wertieal position against the force -:e'xerted by the 'coil spring 16. 'Ihe 5 hook is -thn *draIWn'butWafd-ly sligihtly to free the notch 2'6 fro'm the sci ewthr'eaid'e d ele- '"irien-t 21 and to 'locate theinner end portion of -sai'd Screw threaded element entirely within the ahhi1-lar gro'eve izuor "the 3 hook supperting mem- Ber. whe hook I 3 is thnrotated 90 'a-cir'cle whieh "will bring one of the groov'es 25 in alineh r'rie'nt relative to 'thef screwthrealded element 21 -j'ah'd thecoil spring I9 is -p"mitted to draw the hook-Supporting inember 1 0 downwar dly Within the ferrule I of the 'clamp stic'k -unti1 the :lower pernen of theficlamp 'ohtacts with the toppor- 6f the melanin- 5131914. In -tl$1'-iS co'l ine(313161).' it

@ is penises out that standard 'lainps of tlietype *which the :improved cl'amp stiek is 'adaipted to operate have low er "portions that s'eat in tlie the clamp is v'ery -s'ecurely 'held -by the" oihsprmg 1 I 9 in. :positionaatop the clamp 1 stick;

Wi-th the clamp niqllht "dififmly-i aeep tneeramp -stick,:;; s'ldescrib'dmtlfe elampns elevated the vclamp stick downwardly relative to the hooksupporting member I0 until the inner end portion of the screwthreaded element 21 again proj ects into the annular groove 24 of said -'hooksupporting -member. The clamp/stick is then rotated axially '90' =until the screwthreadedfiel'e- "ment 521 fis "seated in one of the notches 26 whereby the hook-supporting member 40 locked in the position in which it is sho'wn *Fig. '1. The "hook -then disconnected from the jaw actuating element of the clamp, the coil spring "I6 moving the hook to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 7, and the clamp stick is loweredto the ground. It -to-be-note'd"that -when-the-h0'ok this-drawn downwardly iri-to the ferrule "-I -toseataclamp atop the clamp stick, opposite portions of the hook are disposed in and -move through the grooves of the ferrule,

while opposite portions of "the -eye df the fj'a'w "actuating'element of the 'clam'p are tlispo'sed in andmove through thegrooves Ii of said 'f errule.

Whe'n a clamp is to -be removed from anioverhead electrical conductor with theaid-of the improved clamp stick of 1 this invention the aupper portion of the clamp stick is elevated to the position of' the clamp with the '-hook f I 3 in the' po- -sition it occupies in Fig. *7. The-hook is inserted in the eye of the flaw actuating element of 'the -'cla-mp and the'clamp stick is' pulleddownwardly *to move --th"e hook "to a posi-tiom where it is alined with the clamp stick and to move-the inner end portion of the screwthreaded element 2! to a position whereit projects into-the annular groove 24 of the hook-supporting member I 0. The pole supper-ting element, whereupon the coil spring I9 will pull the hook-supporting-lement 1 0 and 'th-e hd'ok downwardlyto tlie-position of said p'arts the cal'e'imp'-'an"d thereby permit 'the clamp to be removed from' th'econductor/the "lower portion 'df 'the clampbin drawn intc firm engagement with the recesses B of the ferrule by the coil "spring 'I-Il for the act-ionof- -loweiing -said clamp to the-g-roimd.

Provision is ma'de' in the construction of the i"rn-proved clamp stick of -this inverition -to -retrieve the hook I3 in the event it- -accidentally or des'igriedly becomes disposed deep- -within the interi'or-of the ferrule with no clam :attached thereto. The means for accomplishing this pur- -pose com'pris'es an outer tubular member 28 "which E'efmbraces -the ferrule I an'd 'a'n' upper portion of -the=po1e-3. The tubular member 28is provided with an annular shoulder'iza (Fig.6) which underlies a ring 3fl'that is interposed-between said V "Shoulder- '29 and the bottom edge face or theferthe aid of the clalmp st 'k e Wl'fha'fd C'Gh- 75 a fastening device' tl. The tubular member 2 8 has an opening 32 formed through the wall thereof (Figs. 13 and 14) and the ring 30 likewise has an opening 33 formed through the wall thereof, said opening 33 having opposed, curved wall portions, as is shown in Fig. 14. Arranged in the openings 32 and 33 is a clip 34 formed of spring material, said clip having outwardly extended end portions 35 which contact with the circumferential face of the pole 3, and a forwardly extended portion 36 which is disposed in the opening 32 of the tubularmember 28.

In the event the hook 13 of the clamp stick of this invention becomes disposed deep within the ferrule l of the clamp stick, as suggested above, the portion 36 of the clip 34 is pressed inwardly so as to move said clip portion out of the opening 32 of the tubular member 28. This releases the tubular member 28 for downward movement relative to the pole 3 to expose the slot 9 of the ferrule I, and when said slot has been so exposed, a screwdriver, or other suitable tool, may be inserted through said slot into engagement with the hook l3, or a part of the hooksupporting member ID, whereupon the hook and the hook-supporting member may be moved outwardly against the force of the coil spring I9.

Fig. 15 illustrates a modified form of the hooksupporting member of the clamp stick of this invention. In accordance with the form of the invention illustrated in the views other than Fig. 15 the hook-supporting member I3 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed notches 26, either of which is engaged by the screwthreaded element 21 to retain the hook-supporting member in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 7. However, the hook-supporting member ID illustrated in Fig. 15 includes but one notch 26 and located in diametrically opposed relation to this notch 26' is a groove 31 of intermediate length When compared with the depth of the notch 26' and the length of the grooves 25'. In the use of a clamp stick provided with the hook-supporting member l of Fig. 15, the screwthreaded element 21 engages the closed upper end of the groove 3'! so as to retain the hook l3 in such position that the pole 3 may be rotated axially to actuate the jaw actuating element of clamp without any likelihood that the lower portions of the clamp will contact with or engage the upper portion of the clamp stick.

I claim:

1. A clamp stick comprising a ferrule, a pole to which said ferrule is fixed, a hook-supporting member disposed within said ferrule for longitudinal sliding movement therein, a hook pivotally supported by said hook-supporting member, spring means which tends to move said hooksupporting member in one directionwithin said ferrule, and means for arresting movement of said hook-supporting member imparted thereto by said spring means so as to locate said hooksupporting member and the hook supported there by in predetermined positions with respect to said ferrule, the last-mentioned means comprisingan annular groove formed in said hook-supporting member, an abutment face formed on said hook-supporting member at said annular groove, and an abutment element supported by said ferrule which is adapted to project into said annulargrooveand is adapted to engage said abutment face. i

2., A clamp stick comprising a ferrule, a pole to which said ferrule is fixed, a hookesupporting member disposed within said ferrule forlongitudinal sliding movement therein, a hook pivotally supported by said hook-supporting member, spring means which tends to move said hooksupporting member in one direction within said ferrule, and means for arresting movement of said hook-supporting member imparted thereto by said spring means so as to locate said hooksupporting member and the hook supported thereby in predetermined positions with respect to said ferrule, the last-mentioned means comprising an annular groove formed in said hooksupporting member, a notch formed in said hooksupporting member that opens into said annular groove, and an abutment element supported by said ferrule which is adapted to project into said annular groove and is adapted to engage the wall of said notch.

3. A clamp stick comprising a ferrule, a pole to which said ferrule is fixed, a hook-supporting member disposed Within said ferrule for longitudinal sliding movement therein, a hook pivotally supported by said hook-supporting member, spring means which tends to move said hooksupporting member in one direction within said ferrule, means for arresting movement of said hook-supporting member imparted thereto by said spring means so as to locate said hook-supporting member and the hook supported thereby in predetermined positions with respect to said ferrule, the last-mentioned means comprising an annular groove formed in said hook-supporting member, an abutment face formed on said hooksupporting member at said annular groove, and an abutment element supported by said ferrule which is adapted to project into said annular groove and is adapted to engage said abutment face, and a groove formedlongitudinally of. said hook-supporting member that communicates with said annular groove and which is movable relative to said abutment element longitudinally of said ferrule tocause said hook-supporting member and the hook supported thereby to assurne a different position with respect to said ferrule.

4. A clamp stick comprising a ferrule, a pole to which said ferrule is fixed, a hook-supporting member disposed within said ferrule for longitudinal sliding movement therein, a hook pivotally supported by said hook-supporting member, spring ,means which tends to move said hooksupporting member in one direction within said ferrule, means for arresting movement of said hook-supporting member imparted thereto by said spring means so as to locate said hook-supporting member and the hook supported thereby in predetermined positions with respect to said ferrule, the last-mentioned means comprising an annular groove formed in said hook-supporting member, an abutment face formed on said hooksupporting member at said annular groove, and an abutment element supported by said ferrule which is adapted to project into said annular groove and is adapted to engage said abutment face, and a groove formed longitudinally of said hook-supporting member that communicates at an end thereof with said annular groove and whichis movable relative to said abutment element longitudinally of said ferrule to cause said hook-supporting member and the hook supported thereby to assume a different position with respect to said ferrule.

5. A clamp stick comprising a ferrule, a pole to which said ferrule is fixed, a hook-supporting member disposed within said ferrule for longitudinal sliding movement therein, a hook pivotally supported by said'hook-supporting member,

sprin means tends to more said hooksuppoi tirrg menu er in -one direction within said ierrrfle, means for arresting movement of said hook supponting member imparted thereto by said spring means so a's tolloca'te fsaid ho'ok-isupporting and the -hook supported thereby i n predetermined =positions with respect -to said last-mentioned means comprising an annular groove icrrned in said hook supporting member, an' abutment =face formed on sai'diihoolr- To 6. in clamprstickwcomprising a ferrule having a.

bore extended therethrough in 'the face of which longitudinally extended grooves are formed, "a po'le to which said ferrule is fixed, 1a hook-supporting member disposed within said f-errule *ior longitudinal sliding movement therein, a hook pivotally supported by said hook-suppor ting member, spring 'means which tends to move said -'g roove formed long itudinally of said mock-supporting member that communicates with said annular groove and which is m'o-vable relative tosaid abutment :e'lement longitudinally of zsa'id ferrule to cause said hook-supporting member and'the 'hook supported thereby to assume a different position respect to said ferrule.

8. cl'amp stick comprising a :ferrule, na pol'e to -whichsaid ferrule is fixed a hoolr-i'supporting member disposed within said ferrule :for longitudinal '=sliding movement therein, a hooksup- :ported by :saiiil hook-supporting member, spring means which to move :said mock-supportiin'g-Emember in one direction within said ferrule, "meansitor arresting movementiof-said ahook-rsupiportm 'menib'erzimparted thereto by said'spring meansiso as to ilocate said:hook-supporting1nemf ber and fthe supported thereby in predehook-supportingmember in one direction within s'aid ferrule, means" for earresting movement of said nock-supporting member imparted thereto by said spring means so as tolocate said hooksuppOr-tin'g member andthe hooksupported thereby in -predetermined positions With 'respectto said ferrule, the last mentioned means comprising an annular groove formed in said hook-supporting membenan abutment face formed on said hooksup'porti-ngmember at said annular groove, and

hook-supporting member that communicates V with-said annular groove and which is movable relative to said abutment element longitudinally of "said ferrule to cause said hook-supporting member and the hook supported thereby to as "sume a different position "with respect to said ferrule.

"7. A clamp stick comprising a *ferrule having a bore extended 'therethrough in the "face of which pairs of opposed longitudinally "extended grooves are formed, a pole toWhich-said'ferrule is fixed, a hook-supporting member disposed within said ferrule for longitudinal slidingmovement thereim-a hook pivotally supported by said hook-supporting -member, springfmeans which tends-"to move said hook-supporting member in one direction Within saidferrule, means forar- :restingmovementoi said hook-supporting mem- Tber imparted thereto by said spring imeans so as to,:locate :said hook-supportingJmemberand the hooktsupported'thereby inpredetermined po 'sition's" with respect to said ferrule, 'the 'la-st-m'en- 'ti'oned means comprising an annular groove formed in said hook-supporting member, an abutment face formed on said hook-supporting .member at said annular groove, and an abutment element supported by said ferrule which is adapted-to project into-said annular :grooveand is adaptedtoengage-said abutmentface, and a itermmed positions with respect -to said ferrule, esaid. :fernulehaving =az.slot formed longitudinally :ef the wall'thereot, a tubular element which cembraces said errule and thermally covers said slot, and :means for 'releasably retaining said tubular element in :lits S'slot-rcovering zposition;

19.. lAfcla'mp stick 'compri'sing a ferr-ulepa pole to which .tsaid'ferriile is rfixed, .a hook=supporting member fdisposed with'in said ferrule r for longitudinal sliding -movement therein, a hook supported :sai'd hook-supporting :member, spring meansuvhich :tends 'to move said hool -supportmember in one direction "within :said ferrule, means for arresting movement of said hook-supportingzmember imparted thereto by said spring "means so as :to loeate said ihoolzesupporting member and thevhook supportedv thereby =in predeterminedpositions 'Wil3h'l1:6S13SCt-t0=$fiiid ferrule, :said "ferrule having a slot formed longitudinally of the Wall thereof, :a --.tubu-larwelement which embraces said lferrule and normally covers said slot. andwmeans comprising :a spring clip for ireleas- :ably retaining said tubular element in its slotcoveringposition.

,10. 1A -clamp;stick comprising a ferrule,-apole towhich :said :ferrule is fixed, aihoolvsupporting member disposed within said ferrule for .long-i- --tudinal sliding umovement therein, *a hook supported by said shook-supporting member, spring means whichetend to :move' said hoolesuppoming -m-ember in one --direot-ion within said ferrule, means for arresting movement.of-saidhoolesupporting member imparted thereto by said spring means ;:so as to vlocate said hook-supporting member and the hook supported thereby in preldetermi-nedwpositions with :respect to said-ferrule, .said vferrule having a slot formed longitudinally of the wall thereof, a tubular element which embraoeswsaid ferrule :and normally covers *said.-s1ot,-:and+means comprising -a springlclip -for releasably retaining said tubular element in .its=slot-.covering position, said spring clip havinga ,portion which projects into an aperture formed Ain said .tubularelement and saidspring clip being compressible to remove said clip eDortion .Tfro'm said aperture -.so as to release said tubular elementsfor movement longitudinally of said .ferru-lefto-a position Where the slotiof said "ferrule "is uncovered. a

'KENNETI-IR. RUND'E.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date :24']s0;31i6 :Fi'ieder :et a1. Nov. 12, I946 

